The Fight for the Pacific Trade
Seattle observes with anxiety as railroad titans and San Francisco money markets clash over the future of Puget Sound trade.
The story, cleaned up
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San Francisco has, for at least ten years, used its influence to discourage investments in Puget Sound, fearing the consequences to its own commercial supremacy if direct railroad communication were established between the Sound and Atlantic cities. Businessmen in San Francisco now realize they cannot resist fate much longer. Jay Gould and others are determined not only to transfer the trade of Oregon and Washington Territory to the Atlantic slope through rail connections, but are dreaming of diverting the growing trades of China, Japan, and India away from San Francisco. Puget Sound lies nearly 1,000 miles nearer these great seats of Oriental trade than San Francisco. Gould and his associates realize this and are acting upon it for selfish motives, yet the result will prove the same for us as if they were moved by patriotism.
“Puget Sound lies, by advantage of meridian and the great Japan current, nearly or quite 1,000 miles nearer these great seats of Oriental trade than do ourselves.”
This reflects the late 19th-century 'booster' mentality where Seattle’s growth was seen as a zero-sum game against San Francisco. It highlights the city's early obsession with becoming a global shipping hub, a goal that fundamentally shaped Seattle's infrastructure and identity.
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